From across the crowded ballroom, Aiden Cargill caught a glimpse of Nevaeh Belmont. The socialite was surrounded by a group of people and didn’t look the way he’d expected her to.
They’d never met, though they attended many of the same functions. To be honest, Aiden never really paid that close attention to her until tonight. Maybe it was the way she’d split from Skyler Belmont after he approached her near the entrance. He could sense there was some tension between Nevaeh and her father.
In her photos, she appeared too thin and her mouth was always set in a pout. Her eyes usually held a vacuous expression. As he maneuvered around for a closer look, Aiden noticed that her wide-set blue eyes weren’t vacuous tonight. They seethed with something that was either passion or anger.
She wasn’t as scary thin as she appeared to be in her photos. He’d thought her an attractive woman when he’d seen her on the cover of People magazine or US Weekly but in person, she radiated a kind of beauty that left him quite speechless.
Nevaeh was his enemy’s daughter. So, Aiden knew the details of her life. That her mother had died when she was six of complications due to breast cancer. He knew that Nevaeh had been shipped off to a boarding school in Switzerland and, from all reports, been an excellent student until she turned eighteen and came into the fortune left her by her grandparents.
She’d dropped out of school and joined Europe’s party set and never looked back. For six years she partied hard and with little regard for others. There were rumors of affairs with married men, scandalous photos of her in every paper on the continent and occasionally in the U.S.
Then she’d dropped off the party circuit and returned to the States to go to college. The report he’d read of her transcripts had indicated Nevaeh Belmont was an excellent student. But once again she found herself embroiled in a scandal just weeks before graduation when pictures of her and the dean of students surfaced in a local paper.
After replying to an old woman, Nevaeh glanced around the room and caught him staring. Aiden arched one eyebrow at her but didn’t look away.
“What are you doing?”
Aiden didn’t take his gaze from Nevaeh as he replied to his brother Landon’s question.
“I’m flirting with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Den, she’s off-limits. Unless you’ve changed your mind about…?”
“Oh, no, I haven’t.”
He would never change his mind about going after Skyler Belmont’s business. Skyler was the reason that Aiden was so successful. The reason he’d driven himself and his employees to take his company to the top. The reason he was here tonight.
Since he’d been old enough to understand the business world, he’d known who Skyler was. At first, Aiden had been in awe of what the man accomplished but seeing his methods up close and personal had changed the admiration to disdain.
He’d never forget the excitement he’d felt when he’d heard that Skyler Belmont was opening one of his innovative Nevaeh’s Dresser stores in his hometown. But Aiden hadn’t understood his father’s quiet anger toward the man.
Aiden had felt a wave of disdain for his father and his small-town mindset in a way only a twelve-year-old boy could. But in a short while, as the life his father had provided for the Cargill family had fallen apart, Aiden had come to understand why his father hated Belmont.
Soon Aiden felt hatred for the man, too, slowly turning to a need for revenge that had never left him. The opening of Nevaeh’s Dresser had slowly driven all the Main Street shops out of business. Aiden had watched his father struggle to keep the downtown area vital, even going to Skyler Belmont for help. But Belmont had refused.
“Of course, you haven’t.”
“What’s your point, Land?”
“Just that you don’t want to get involved with someone who works for a company we’re going after.”
He glanced at Landon.
“Since when do I need advice?”
Landon punched him in the arm.
“Old man, you always need advice when it comes to your personal life.”
“Yeah, right. I think I see Melinda trying to get your attention.”
Landon groaned under his breath but turned toward the woman he’d been dating on and off for the last four years.
“When are you finally going to marry her?”
“When you start taking my advice.”
“Then… Never?”
“I don’t know,” Landon said, but the comment felt as if it were directed more at himself than to Aiden. “Catch you later, Den. Remember what I said.”
“Later, Land.”
As his brother left, Aiden realized that Nevaeh was no longer talking with the group. The doors opened for seating in the main banquet room. Aiden held back, hoping for one more glance of Miss Belmont.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. Long manicured fingernails rested on the black fabric of his dinner jacket. A sweet sultry scent perfumed the air and he glanced over his shoulder at Nevaeh.
“Well, hello, there,” he said.
“Hello to yourself! I saw you watching me.”
“Good.”
“In some cultures, it’s considered impolite to stare.”
“Your point is?”
She walked around in front of him, staying close in the crush of people trying to enter the banquet room.
“My point is I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Aiden Cargill.”
“Ah…”
“So, you’ve heard of me…”
“Vaguely,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye, the took another sip of her drink. “I’m Nevaeh Belmont.”
“I know who you are.”
“Because of your business interest in Nevaeh’s Dresser?” she asked.
Her boldness surprised him. And he wasn’t sure why.
“Among other things.”
Nevaeh took another sip of the drink in her hand, tipping her head to one side.
“Don’t believe everything you read about me, Mr. Cargill.”
She was an enticing bundle of femininity.
“I don’t.”
To his great surprise, she reached up and touched his chin. Just her fingertips against the stubble on his face.
“That’s good because I have a proposition for you.”
“I like the sound of that,” he replied with a little grin on his lips.
“No, not that kind of proposition.”
“A man can hope.”
Nevaeh turned away, but not before he saw a flash of desire in her eyes. Interesting.
“What’s your offer?” he asked.
“I’m in the market for a job, Aiden,” she said.
Just the sound of his name on her lips made everything male in him come to point. He wanted to hear her say his name, but from the tangled sheets of his bed after they’d had wild sex. Not in the middle of this crowded function while he was trying to follow Landon’s advice to keep his hands to himself.
“No.”
She sighed.
“I’m very good at PR and I think I can be an asset to your company.”
“Again, no. I can’t hire you.”
Aiden wondered if Skyler had set his daughter up to come to him for a job… maybe with the intent of using her as a corporate spy.
“Don’t say no. If I were you, I wouldn’t do that… Not yet, anyway. Let me come to your office tomorrow and talk to you. Once you see my resume you might reconsider.”
He took her arm. God, her skin was smooth and soft. Softer than a woman’s arm should be. Aiden drew her away from the flocks of people and into a quiet part of the hallway. She didn’t hesitate to follow him. He stopped when they were alone and she leaned back against the wall watching him the way a woman watches a man she wants.
“Don’t play with me, Nevaeh.”
“I’m not, Aiden,” she replied, quietly.
Oh, but he knew she was. Aiden hated to think that he might be falling in lust with the daughter of his worst enemy. Hated that Skyler might have found the one chink in his otherwise impenetrable façade.
What kind of man would use his daughter like that? Suspicion and desire warred inside him and he finally gave into desire. Aiden leaned in over her. So close he could see that her blue eyes weren’t a pure color but a combination of several different shades. And that her lashes were thicker than a mink stole.
And her lips… ah, hell, her lips were full and wide and as she drew her tongue over the bottom one, he remembered exactly how long it had been since he’d held a woman in his arms. And he couldn’t trust her.
His best bet would be to scare her off with a bold pass. From what he’d read of her, she was used to pampered boys who lived off their family’s fortunes.
“Aiden?”
“I don’t need you in my PR department… but…” he countered.
“Don’t say it,” she warned him.
He didn’t voice his request, just tugged her a little closer and brought his mouth to her ear. Nevaeh shivered as his breath brushed over her and he felt an answering spread of sensation. Aiden felt the first tingling of arousal in his loins.
“It’s obvious we’re attracted to each other,” he whispered.
She pulled back from him.
“I’m attracted to you, which makes no sense at all.”
Hell, he knew that. But he wanted her. More than he should. This wasn’t logical or rational but she felt so right. Too right. It reminded him that the deep freeze he’d carefully existed in while focusing on his plan of revenge was starting to thaw.
In her gaze, Aiden saw a hint of sadness and the kind of determination that played havoc with his control. She closed her eyes. He saw her skin flush at his words and her shoulders sank back, lifting her breasts toward him.
He caressed the long line of her cheekbones. Her skin was softer than the sea mist. Her lashes drifted down as he explored the angles and curves of her face. Aiden traced the lines of her lips as they parted under his touch.
Then, he stroked his thumb over her full lower lip, watched the natural pink color of her lips darken. She tipped her head back and leaned the slightest bit toward him. There was a bit of haughtiness in her that intrigued him.
Aiden wanted to take her in his arms and see how haughty she looked after he ravished her mouth with his kisses. She shrugged her shoulder.
“I’m not looking for an affair, Aiden. I’m looking for a job.”
He knew he’d never hire her but he didn’t want to just let her walk away from him. And he knew that was her intent.
“I can see you tomorrow at eleven.”
“Great. Prepare to be amazed,” Nevaeh said, walking away.
“Okay, Neve,” she said slowly, looking carefully around, trying not to pass for a crazy woman talking to herself, “this is it! If this is what you want, you need to play this one right!” Nevaeh had dressed for her interview with Aiden Cargill with care. Her black Chanel suit was a classic and she wore it like a security blanket. She loved the feeling of the lined summer-weight wool skirt against her legs. She paired it with a pair of ultra-thin sheer French hose and some Manolos that were understated and sophisticated. But even if she was dressed to impress, Nevaeh still, was extremely nervous. Her hands trembled as she took a sip of the coffee Aiden’s private assistant, Marilyn, had gotten for her. She hated being that betrayed by her own emotions and forced herself to rehearse in he
He glanced up at her then and realized he felt a grudging respect for the woman in front of him. She fought dirty… well she fought to win. And Aiden always respected winning except when Skyler Belmont won. And somehow this daughter of his had to be the key to bringing him down. No, Nevaeh was the key to twisting the pain of losing when Skyler fell. And the old man was going down. Right now, though, Aiden needed some answer from her. He should be treating this like an interview. Keeping his eyes off her legs and focusing on what she was doing here.“Why did you go into PR, Nevaeh?” She relaxed in her seat, crossing those long legs again.“It seemed like the right fit for me. I know a lot of people in the medi
Aiden had been surprised when he’d gotten the text from Nevaeh asking him to meet her at the High Tide Gallery on north Greystone Avenue. He’d worked later than he’d planned to and then made his way across town to the gallery opening for an artist that Aiden had never heard of before, Amedeo Bellini. He mentioned Nevaeh’s name at the door and was told to go right in. He got a glass of wine from the waiter and walked through the room stopping to study the art. He’d never taken time to appreciate this kind of thing. His brother, Landon, collected sculptures, and their mother had an affinity for photography. But Aiden wasn’t interested in anything unless it brought him closer to his goal of bringing down Skyler Belmont.
“Got a minute, Neve?”“Sure,” she replied, surprised to see Julian Devereaux at this event. Though he was a decent PR man, he didn’t move in the same circles she did.“Uh, first I want to say, I’m sorry you didn’t get the promotion.” Nevaeh genuinely liked Julian and with a few more years of experience, he was going to be exactly what her father needed. For now, he was smart and savvy but a little young and inexperienced.“As my father said, ‘the best man got the job’,” she said. Julian flushed.“I hope I can live up to that expectation.”“Of course, you will. So… what did you want?”“I was hoping you’d have some time in your sched
Nevaeh was tired, cranky, and out of sorts when she left her apartment the next morning for her meeting with Julian Devereaux. And she wasn’t very well prepared. She hadn’t gone back to the office after she’d decided to quit working for her father, so she had no notes other than the things she’d kept in her head. And this might not be the best morning for a meeting because all she could think about was Aiden… his kiss… his hands… his embrace… She hated the fact that they’d both agreed to part ways. She knew it was the most sensible thing to do but she ached for him. That kiss last night had made it impossible for her to do anything other than moon over the man, toss and turn in her bed thinking about him… naked… on top of her. And that
She chewed on her lower lip. Aiden lowered his head and brushed her mouth with his. He wanted to deepen the contact but restraint was needed now. Later when they were alone in his office…“I think I need to hide most of all from you, Aiden.”“Why is that?”“Because you see me in ways that no one else does.” The elevator doors opened before Aiden could respond and his brother stood there in the hallway waiting for them.“We’ll finish this conversation later.”“Oh… Will we?” Nevaeh asked in that sassy way of hers. She was getting herself back from the shock of seeing that photo. He was glad for it. He could deal with the ballsy woman better than the vulnerable one.“I just said we wo
She looked at her watch.“Damn it!” Nevaeh exclaimed slowly. Nevaeh was thirty minutes late for her meeting with Julian Devereaux. She wasn’t exactly sure of what she’d agreed to in Aiden’s office but she knew they’d discuss it further when he came to her house tonight for dinner. She called her housekeeper and informed her she’d have a guest for dinner. Then she stopped in front of the ‘Nevaeh’s Dresser’ corporate offices. Since their earlier meeting at Starbucks had been delayed, Julian had suggested they try for lunch. He was lounging against a low railing that lined the handicap ramp leading to the entrance, cigarette in one hand, cellphone in the other. The wind blew
Aiden was as familiar with the ‘Nevaeh’s Dresser’ organizational chart as he was with his own. He knew all the players in the company and the name Julian Devereaux wasn’t ringing any bells.“We’re checking him out. Seems like that picture of the two of you caused a stir, as well.” He didn’t give a crap about what people thought about him. Aiden had made himself stop caring the day his parents had moved them out of their large family home just off of Main Street and into a mobile home park. It was the same day that the local ‘Nevaeh’s Dresser’ announced record sales and plans to double the size of their store. But he didn’t like the fact that anyone was speculating on what was between him and Nevaeh. What he felt for her was too raw.